Stacker for paper sheets or signatures



, '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1966 M. KSTAL ET AL sTAcKER Foa PAPER SHEETS on SIGNATURES Filed Nov. 18, 1963 M. Kos'rAL. ET AL STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS OR SIGNATURES Oct. 18, 1966 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1963 mwN-INV@ Oct 18, 1966 M. KosTAL ETAL STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS OR SIGNATURES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 Oct. 18, 1966 M. KosTAL ET AL 3,279,792

STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS 0R SIGNATURES Filed NOV. 18, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 18, 1966 M. KosTAL x-:T AL

STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS OR SIGNATURES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1965 Oct. 18, 1966 M. KosTAl. ETAL STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS OR SIGNATURES 'T Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 Oct. 18, 1966 M. KosTAL ET AL STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS OR SIGNATURES Filed Nov. 18, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Unted States Patent O 3,279,792 STACKER FOR PAPER SHEETS R SIGNATURES Milton Kostal, La Grange, and Louis Kostal, Lombard, lll., assignors to R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,331 12 Claims. (Cl. 271-71) This invention relates to ,the stacking of thin flexibleA sheets, such as signatures, and to a preferred appar-atus for stacking such sheets in accordance with the principles of a stacking method. A signature may be defined as a printed sheet containing `a number of pages, usually in multiples of four, such as four, eight or sixteen, which when folded as a unit, forms a section of a book, pamphlet, magazine or the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide for a new and useful stacking of sheets.

Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the type described lfor stacking sheets.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful method for stacking sheets.

Sheets and signatures of the character mentioned have, of course, been stacked in `the past, but the methods f-ollowed and the apparatus utilized have been attended by disadvantages, e.g., utilization of undue amounts of space, the employment of cumbersome transfer apparatus, the tendency toward sheet jamming, formation of uneven stacks, and the like. More particularly, it has been customary to deliver folded signatures from a web printing, folding and cutting apparatus to a generally horizontal moving conveyor so that the signatures are arranged on the conveyor in a shingled stream with leading portions of individual signatures in advance of the leading edges of succeeding signatures and with the trailing edges of individual signatures underlying succeeding signatures.

Other arrangements, have included provisions for feeding the stream against an abutment or stop member so as to build a stack. However, such stacking systems require conveyance from the cutter delivery wheel to a more remote location for stacking.

The present invention provides signature or sheet stacking apparatus disposed beneath a cutter delivery cylinder which delivers the signatures to a signature delivery station above a stacking area. The signatures are directed from the delivery station downward into the stacking area and onto a first support member in the form of a table which reciprocates vertically and has a portion disposed to permit the folded edges of signatures to drape below the remainder of the table surface. The signatures or sheets are laterally conned to form an even vertical stack on the rst support member until a stack of the desired height is obtained. A second support member is timed to move between signatures subjacent the delivery cylinder and thence to the stacking area to a position supporting signatures delivered thereto from above so that the stack on the first support member may be removed when the latter reaches its lowest point of travel; and said rst support then m-oves up to lift the signatures from the second support member and permit the latter to be withdrawn for recycling. Each support member, while receiving signatures, moves downwardly at a rate which causes the top of the growing stack to remain substantially at -the same level at all times.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a stacking apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partially in section taken substantially as illustrated along the line 2-2 of FIG- URE l, but illustrating the apparatus at a different phase in its operation from FIGURE l;

Patented Oct. 18, 1966 ICC FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in section showing support fingers in the position illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially as illustrated along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away taken substantially as illustrated along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, with most of the signatures omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially as illustrated along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken substantially as illustrated along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation, partially in section, similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the apparatus in a different position from that of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially as illustrated along line 9 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially as illustrated along line 10-10 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 1l is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 8, showing the apparatus in still another position;

FIGURE l2 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken substantially as illustrated along line 12-12 of FIGURE 1 through the finger assembly and mounting with the fingers in yet another position;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially as illustrated along line 13-13 of FIG- URE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary substantially -as illustrated along URE 12;

FIGURE l5 is a fragmentary substantially as illustrated along URE l2;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the delivery cylinder, stripper member and nger with the fingers in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 17 is a schematic illustration of control circuitry usable in the apparatus of FIGURES l through 16.

Referring first to FIGURES l, 2 and 4, an embodiment of a stacking system in accordance herewith is illustrated. Accordingly, stacker 20 is positioned below a delivery cylinder 21 of a cutter. Cylinder 21 is continuously rotated on drive shaft 22 and stacker 20 receives signatures individually stripped from cylinder 21. Such delivery cylinders are well known to those in the art and are provided in many commercial printing, folding and cutting installations.

Stacker 20 consists generally of first sheet supporting means A including a platform which is vertically reciprocable in a stacking area, second sheet supporting means B which supports sheets temporarily while means A is depositing a stack of sheets on an outfeed conveyor C, drive means D for operating the stacker, and control means E (FIG. 17) to control the cycling of the means B and the outfeed conveyor C in timed relationship with reciprocation of the means A.

The basic mode of operation is that the means A is reciprocated vertically by cams, while the means B includes a table which is reciprocated vertically by cams and also includes hydraulic cylinder mechanism carried by said table for moving sheet supporting fingers in and out of a stacking area.

Stacker 20 includes a frame 23 which is constructed of channel members 24, re-sting on a floor or other foundation shown at 27, upstan-ding side walls 28 and 29, an upstanding end wall 30, a transverse angle member 31a,

vertical section taken line 14-14 of FIG- vertical section taken line 15-15 of FIG- and end supports 31 which are secured to the ends of the angle member 31a outside the side walls 28 and 29. Drive D for stacker 20 includes a motor 32 mounted on a mounting bracket 33 which is secured to a brace 34 of frame 23. Secured to the armature of motor 32 is a pulley 37 which is driven by motor 32 and which in turn drives a belt 38 to drive a pulley 39 secured to the shaft of a gear reducer 4t) which is variable to adjust the speed of stacker movement to coordinate the stacker speed with the speed of rotation of cylinder 21, eg., with the speed of a press. Gear reducer 4t) drives a sprocket 41 secured to the output shaft thereof, which in turn drives a chain belt 42, a sprocket 43, a shaft 44, a sprocket 47, a chain belt 48, a sprocket 49, a shaft 58, a sprocket 51, a chain belt S2, a sprocket 53 and a shaft 54. Sprockets 43, 47, 49, 51 and 53 are of the same size so all of shafts 44, 51) and 54, which are journaled in the frame sides 28 and 29, are driven at the same speed and in the same direction-ie., clockwise as viewed in FIG- URE 2. Keyed on shaft 44 are cams 67 `and 68; keyed on shaft 50 are cams 69 and 79; keyed on shaft 54 are cams 71 and '72; and shaft 50 also drives a control cam shaft 73 via bevel gears 77 and 78. Cams 67, 68, 69 and 78 are all of the same configuration and are secured upon their respective shafts in the same rotational disposition. Likewise, cams 71 and 72 are of the same configuration, although different from cams 67, l68, 69 and 70, and are secured on shaft S4 in the same rotational disposition. Cams 71 and 72 support and control vertical reciprocation of the rst sheet supporting means A, while cams 67 to 70 support and control vertical reciprocation of a platform 116 which is part of the second sheet supporting means B, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

As seen in FIG. 5, cams '71 and 72 support follower rollers 88 which are rotatably secured to stub shafts on bosses 80a at the sides of a platform 81 of sheet supporting means A, and said cams reciprocate the platform vertically in accordance with the cam configuration with the shafts 80a riding in vertical slots 28a and 29a in the frame members 28 and 29, respectively. Platform 81 is maintained aligned with the stacking area by a pair of depending shafts 82 secured thereto, and each shaft 82 is slidably mounted in a ball bearing sleeve 83 which is in turn slidably mounted in an outer sleeve 84. As best seen in FIGURE 5, each sleeve 83 is apertured to carry a plurality of ball bearings 87 which contact shaft 82 and outer sleeve 84 so the sleeve floats with respect to its shaft 82 and sleeve 84. Sleeves 84 are mounted on a cross frame member 88 which is secured to frame sides 28 and 29.

Platform 81 forms the base for the signature or sheet receiving table within a stacking area 89. Secured to platform 81 are a plurality of upstanding parallel webs 90, 91 and 92 which extend substantially above platform 81. The webs 90 and 91 have ooplanar top surfaces at least one end of each of which is sloping or rounded slightly as shown at 93; while the -web 92 has its top surface below those of webs 90 and 91 and at least one end of the top surface of web 92 is also sloped or tapered as shown at 94 (FIGURE 8). The other ends of the three top surfaces may also be rounded as shown in the drawings.

The top surfaces of webs 90 through 92 provide a signature support shaped and disposed to allow the folded edges to drape below the remainder of the signatures, so as to permit for-mation of a higher stack before the signatures will tend to slide laterally because of a sloped top stack surface.

The area between the upstanding webs 90 through 92 provides grooves extending from the signature support to the platform, so that when platform 81 is lowered from the position `shown in FIGURES 2. and 5, through the position shown in FIGURE 8 to the position shown in FIGURE 1l by rotation of cams 71 and 72, a stack of signatures is deposited on outfeed conveyor means C for delivery from the stacking zone. Accordingly, the grooves between the webs 90 to 92 provide vertical lost mot-ion to permit for-mation of a stack of signatures of the desired height prior to depositing the stack on the conveyor C.

Outfeed C includes a motor 57 which drives a gear reducer 58 having an output shaft 59 carrying parallel pulleys 69. Carried on pulleys 68 are conveyor belts 61 the upper reaches of which travel to the right as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2; and the belts 61 are also supported by pulleys -62 on a shaft 63 which is journaled as at 64 in frame side walls 28 and 29. The upper reaches of belts 61 are supported by angle members 65, and overlie the platform 81 between the webs 98, 91 and 92.

As best seen in FIG. 16, delivery cylinder 21 is of a conventional type having clips (not shown) which hold signatures delivered from a cutter (not shown); and as the cylinder rotates in a clockwise direction strippers 97 mounted on a stacking area bracket 98 project into and follow circumferential grooves 180 in the outer periphery of the cylinder 21 so that upon release of the clips the signatures contact the strippers 97 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 16, where a signature 101 is being stripped from the cylinder. As drum 21 continues rotating and delivering signatures at the signature station, subjacent strippers 97, the stack of signatures within stacking area 89 increases in height at the table in the stripping area is lowered by cams 71 and 72 at a rate to keep the ytop of the forming stack at a constant height.

The `signatures fall from the delivery station t0 the top of the stack through a transverse air stream created by air blowing apparatus 102 (FIGS. 1 and 5), which includes a vertical line 103 plugged or otherwise closed at the top and bottom and fed by air from an air supply (not shown) via line 104. Vertical line 103 has a line of ports 107 which direct air toward the edges of sheets falling into the stacking area so as to float the sheets, while conventional joggers 108 having jogger bars 111 jog the sheets to an even stack against the brackets 98 and against vertical pads 189 on a bracket 118. Although the joggers 108 are operated by air pressure from lines 112 and are of the air-thrust, spring-return type, any other type, such as electrically or mechanically actuated joggers, might be used.

The slopes 93 on the upper edges of webs 90 and 91, described above, provide for additional stack height at the edge from which the air blast is being used .to float the signatures during stacking, thereby accommodating any additional thickness at the signature edges created by the lioating effect, eg., to maintain ythe upper surface of the stack against sloping unduly away from the air blast.

Referring now especially to FIGURES 2, 4, 8, 9 and 11, a table 116 of second supporting means 13 is reciprocated vertically by means of cams 67 through 70. As seen in FIG. 9, with respect to cam 68, each of the cams 67 through 70 rotates through a slot 117 in an outer sleeve 118 mounted on frame side wall 28 or 29, as the case may be. A set of rollers 119, which follow the cams, are rotatably mounted on pillars 120 which are slidable within an inner bearing sleeve 121 having bearings 122; and a mounting 123 supports platform 116 on pillars 120. EX- cept for size, bearing sleeve 121 is similar to the previously described bearing sleeve S3. As cams 67 through 70 rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 8, table 116 is raised and lowered in accordance with the cam configuration.

The temporary signature support members and their action during the cycling procedure can lbest be seen with reference to FIGURES 1l through 16.

Turning first to FIGURES 12 to 14, a pair of brackets 127 mount the end of an air cylinder 128 surmounting table 116; and a piston rod 129 of air cylinder 128 abuts and is secured to a slide bracket 130 which is slidable upon table 116 in lateral slide fianges 131. Secured to slide bracket 130 are mounting bosses 132 which are pivotally connected to lixed mounting ears 133, on the bottom of a carrier 137 by pins 134.

Also supporting carrier 137 is a bracket 138 (FIG. 15) which is pivotally connected at 140 to a fork 140a that surrnounts a piston rod 141 of an air cylinder 142 which is in turn anchored to table 116. Carrier 137 has guide fianges 139 slidably embracing the bracket 138.

As viewed in FIGURE 12, it is apparent that carrier 137 may be reciprocated with respect to table 116 by operation of air cylinder 128 and may be rocked about pins 134 by actuation of air cylinder 142.

Mounted on the upper 4surface -of carrier 137 and anchored on brackets 143 is another air cylinder 144 a piston rod 145 of which is secured to a bridging bracket 146 (FIG. 13) which projects laterally and is secured to a sliding plate 147 that reciprocates within a slideway formed by parallel fianges 149 and has long fingers 148 extending toward delivery cylinder 21 (FIG. 16). Thus, the slide plate 147 and fingers 148 are reciprocated on carrier 137 by cylinder 144.

In View of the above, it is apparent that carrier 137 is pivotable and slidable with respect to table 116, while fingers 148 are slidable with respect to carrier 137 and are thus slidable and pivotable with respect to table 116; and that the various motions are produced by the air cylinders 128, 142 and 144. In a typical embodiment cylinder 128 has a four inch stroke, cylinder 142 a one and one-half inch stroke, and cylinder 144 a ten inch stroke.

In the preferred stacking method the fingers 148 of the temporary support member are initially positioned outside of the stacking area 89 while signatures are stripped from cylinder 21 by strippers 97 and fed into the stacking area to form a stack on upstanding webs. 90 through 92. Fingers 148 occupy the position shown in FIGURE 16, resting in recesses 150 provided in stripping members 97, above the path of delivery of signatures at the delivery station, and air cylinder 142 has its piston rod 141 retracted so the fingers 148 are on an incline as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 16. Upon formation of a stack of signatures of the desired height on the descending stack supporting webs 90 to 92, piston rod 141 is extended to rack carrier 137 about pivot 134 and thus orient fingers 148 horizontally. The fingers are thereafter vertically lowered by operation of the cams 67-70 while also being promptly extended into the stacking area by operation of cylinder 144, -so the fingers progress from the position of FIGURE 8 to that of FIGURE ll as signatures are stacked on them and they are lowered by movement of table 116 on the cams 67-70 at a rate to maintain the stack upper surface at a generally constant position. Fingers 148 barely clear the upper surface of the stack which is formed on the webs 90 through 92. At the position of FIG. 11 the platform 81 has dropped far enough to deposit its stack on the conveyor belts 61 for removal Irom the stacking area. The fingers continue their downward movement as a stack forms on them until the webs 90 through 92 return between the fingers to lift the stack from them. Fingers 148 are thereupon retracted by air cylinders 144 and entirely Withdrawn from the stacking area by retraction of piston rod 129. They are then returned to their positions within recess 150 by action of the cams 67-70 on the table 116 and extension of the piston rod 129, while retraction of the piston rod 141 again inclines them. Air blowing and jogging is continuous, as is the feeding of signatures at the delivery station.

Referring now to FIGURE 17, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of suitable circuit-ry for use in the apparatus described with reference to FIGURES 1-16, with the switches shown in the positions they occupy when the apparatus is at that part of the cycle where fingers 148 are receiving and supporting signatures and webs 90 through 92 have descended and deposited a stack of signatures on conveyor belts 61. The position is shown in FIGURE 11.

Microswtches MS-3, MS-4, and MS-S are open, while microswitches MS-l, MS-2, MS-6 iand MS-7 are closed. The closing of MS-9 has started conveyor motor 57 to move the stack deposited on conveyor tapes 61 by table -92 out of the stacking area 89. Switches MS-l and MS-6 are actuated by control cams 152 .and 153, respectively, that are carried by control cam shaft 73, and are rotated one revolution for each revolution of cams 67 through 70. MS-l, riding on la low dwell of cam 152, is closed, and air cylinder 128, the valve for which is controlled by MS-l, is in extended position, holding carrie-r 137 in extended position. Microswitch MS-Z is closed and is maintaining air cylinder 1.42 extended, thereby maintaining fingers `148 level. MS-6, riding on a yhigh dwell of cam 153, is closed maintaining air cylinder 144 and fingers 148 in extended position.

Cams 71 and 72 start platform 81 upwardly, while table 116 carrying fingers 148 proceeds downwardly on cams 67-70 until lthe sta-ck on fingers 148 is placed on primary support webs 90492, and fingers 148 are lowered an additional one-half inch by the cams 67-70 to clear the stack. MS-1 land MS-6 open, withdrawing fingers 148 and platform 137 to .retracted position by retracting cylinders 128 and 144. Table 116 carrying the retracted fingers 148 then rises on cams 67 through 70 while webs 90-92 descend on cams 71 and 72, receiving and supporting the stacking signatures. When table 116 reac-hes the top of its rise on cams `67-71), it trips and opens MS-Z which results in Iretraction of cylinder 142 to tip lingers 148 to the inclined position shown in FIGURE 3. MS-3 is closed by the action which inclines fingers 148, and closing MS-3 extends air cylinder 128 and moves carrier 137 forward to position fingers 148 in the recesses 150, above the delivery path of signatures, as seen in FIG- URE 2. The forward motion of carrier 137 trips and closes MS44.

Microswitch MS-S is `actuated by an actuator 154 mounted on shaft 22 driving delivery cylinder 21 to momentarily close MS-S at a predetermined point in each revolution of cylinder 21 in timed relations-hip with the delivery of signatures from cylinder 21, after a signature has been delivered .at the delivery station and prior to delivery of the next signature. MS-S yand MS-4 are in series, and at the first closure of MS-S with MS-4 closed, cylinder 142 is extended Ito pivot fingers 148 to level position, as shown in FIGUIRE 8 with fingers 148 extending between immediately adjacent sign-atures and the Itable 116 starting to descend. This motion 0f table 116 closes microswitch MS-2 to hold finge-rs 148 level; and t-he pivotal movement of carrier 137 reopens MS-4 Iand MS-3. MS-l has reached the low dwell on cam 152 and is closed to hold cylinder 128 actuated and extended.

Microswitch MS-6 :rides up the -high dwell on cam 15-3 and closes to extend air cylinder 144 and fingers 148 to fully exten-ded position for supporting signatures within stacking or receiving area 89. Platform 81 descends -at a greater rate of speed to deposit the stack of signatures formed on the webs 90-92 upon conveyor bel-t 61, due to the configuration of cams 71-72, and descent of 90-92 closes microswitch MS-7 to start conveyor motor 57 after the signatures are on tapes 61. Platform 81 then rises, opening MS-7 after conveyor 61 has moved the stack deposited on t-he webs 90-92 sufficiently away from the stack-ing area that it will not interfere with the upward movement of the platform as the latter returns to receive another stack from fingers 148 as before. The procedure is repeated until the 4desired number of stacks have been formed or the desired number of signatures have been stacked.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a signature stacking apparatus and method wherein signatures may be received directly from a rotating or revolving delivery wheel. In the preferred embodiment, as described with reference to the drawings, the signatures are received and stacked in a stacking area below the delivery wheel with the delivery wheel delivering signatures to the stacker ata signature delivery station above the stacking area. The preferred vertically reciprocable platform las disclosed herein receives the signatures in the stacking area While permitting the folded edges of signatures to drape below the remainder of the bottom surface of the stack, thereby decreasing the tendency for the upper signatures to slide laterally. It is also app-arent from the preferred embodiment that the support means for temporary support of the signatures during removal of signa-tures from the vertically reciprocal platform, are advantageously moved into the path of signatures at the delivery station from a direction opposite the direction of -travel of the signatures and the movement of the temporary support lingers is sequenced with signature delivery to assure them insertion between signatures.

It will be understood, of course, that the stacker may be used for stacking signatures which may be folded along the leading or trailing edges rather than along .a side edge. The stacker may also be used to stack individual sheets and wherever the terms sheets or signatures, are used herein, it is fully intended that single sheets, true signatures and combinations of sheets and signatures may be used. It is yalso generally intended that the foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as modiiications wi-ll be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for receiving and stacking sheets or signatures vindividually and continuously delivered thereto directly from a rotating delivery cylinder and cooperating strippers thereabove, said apparatus comprising: a stacking zone; a delivery station including means for delivering signatures individually to said stacking zone; primary support means in said zone disposed to support signatures delivered individually thereto; means for cyclically lowering and raising said primary support means; temporary support means having a free end, said support means being movable between an upwardly inclined rest position above the stacking zone with its free end immediately beneath the strippers and a horizontal support position in the stacking zone; means for rocking the temporary support means from said rest position downwardly and thrusting it forwardly between signatures at the delivery station to its support position for supporting signatures thereon independently of said primary support means; means for removing stacked signatures from said primary support means when the temporary support means is in its support position; means for transferring stacked signatures from said temporary support means to said primary support means; and means for returning said temporary support means to rest position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for moving the temporary support means from rest position and the means for returning said temporary support means to rest position includes means for imparting pivotal and translatory motion to said temporary support means to move the latter: (1) pivotally downward and translatorily forward into the stacking area, (2) translatorily downward in the stacking area, (3) translatorily rearward from the stacking area, (4) translatorily upward, and (5) pivotally and translatorily to rest position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the temporary support means includes a table and (fingers movably mounted on the table, and the means for imparting pivotal and translatory motion includes means for reciprocating said table vertically, means on said table mounting said temporary support ngers for horizontal translatory motion endwise into and out of the stacking zone, and means on said table for pivoting said ngers in a vertical plane in timed relationship with their endwise movement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the primary support means includes a plurality of upright, spaced, parallel webs the upper ends of which provide a supporting surta-ce for the stack of signatures in the stacking zone, one of said webs at one side having its upper end below those of the balance of said webs, so that the folded edge of each signature may overlie said one web and thus drape below the level of the rest of the signature.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which includes means for directing an air stream toward a margin of signatures entering the stack, and in which the upper ends of the Webs have their end portions curved slightly downwardly adjacent and in the direction of said air directing means.

6. Apparatus for receiving and stacking sheets or signatures individually and continuously delivered thereto directly from a rotating delivery cylinder thereabove, said apparatus comprising: a stacking zone; a delivery station including means for delivering signatures individually to said stacking zone; primary support means in said zone comprising a platform and a plurality of upright, spaced parallel webs on the platform to support signatures delivered individually thereto; primary rotary cams supporting said platform for cyclical Vertical reciprocation; a table; secondary rotary cams supporting the table for cyclical vertical reciprocation in timed relationship with that of the platform; temporary support means on the table consisting of parallel fingers aligned with the spaces between said webs and movable between a rest position above the stacking zone adjacent the delivery stati-on and a support position supporting signatures in the stacking zone; first means on the table for moving said fingers endwise in and out of the stacking Zone; second means on the table for pivoting the ngers in a vertical plane in timed relationship with their endwise movement, said iirst and second means cooperating to move the fingers between rest position and support position, and the timed reciprocation of said platform and said table causing signatures in the stacking zone to be supported alternately on the primary support means and the temporary support means; and means for removing stacked signatures from said primary support means while signatures are supported on said secondary support means.

7. In a signature or sheet stacking apparatus wherein a rotating delivery cylinder and cooperating strippers deliver signatures individually to a ydelivery station to form an even edged stack on support means in a stacking area below the delivery station via controlled short fall of signatures to the support means, the improvement which comprises, in combination: a vertically reciprocable table, temporary support means movably mounted on said table with a free end adjacent the delivery station, and means for moving said temporary support means between individual signatures opposite the direction of signature travel at the delivery station and above the support means to support signatures thereon, thus permitting removal of signatures from said support means therebelow, said moving means including means for moving said temporary support means pivotally about a horiontal axis between an upwardly inclined rest position with its free end immediately adjacent the strippers and a horizontal supporting position, and means for moving said supporting means endwise in timed relationship with its pivotal movement.

8. In a signature or sheet stacking apparatus in which signatures are individually received at a delivery station to form an even edged stack on support means in a stacking area below the delivery station via controlled fali 4of signatures to the support means, the improvement which comprises, in combination: a table; rotary cams supporting said table; means for rotating said cams to reciprocate the table vertically; a temporary support carrier on the table; temporary support means on said carrier; first moving means on the table to pivot said carrier about a horizontal axis; and second moving means on the carrier to reciprocate the temporary support means endwise; said first and second moving Imeans cooperating to move said temporary support means pivotally and endwise in timed relationship with said pivotal movement to pass `between individual signatures opposite the direction of signature travel at the delivery station to support signatures above the support means, thus permitting removal of signatures from said support means therebelow.

9. In apparatus for stacking folded signatures, in combination: a base; signature support means on said base, said support means including a platform and a plurality of spaced parallel upright webs on the platform the upper ends of which cooperate to provide a signature supporting surface, one of said webs adjacent one side of the platform being of less height than the remainder of the webs and said remainder of the webs being coplanar so that signatures may be stacked on the webs with their folded edges Voverlying said one web to drape below the level of the rest of said signatures; means for delivering signatures successively onto said support means from above to form a vertical stack; and Ameans for reciprocating said support means vertically on the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes means for directing an air stream toward a margin of signatures entering the stack, and in which the upper ends of the webs have their end portions curved slightly downwardly adjacent and in the direction of said air directing means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the sheets carried by the delivery cylinder are folded along an edge and drop with their folded edges superimposed upon one another, and in which the platform has a plurality of pa-rallel, upright webs on which the stack forms, the web beneath said folded edges being of less height than the other webs so that the folded edge of each sheet may drape below the level of the rest of the sheet.

12. Apparatus for stacking a continuous stream of sheets carried seriatim by a high speed delivery cylinder, comprising: stripping means for deecting the leading edges of the sheets seriatim downwa-rdly from the cylinder to stripthe sheets from the cylinder and drop them below the stripping means in a generally horizontal orientation; means constraining the dropping sheets to maintain their edges generally in register; platform means on which the d-ropping sheets form a stack; means for lowering the platform means to maintain the top of the stack always at about the same level; temporary support means having a free end which occupies a rest position in a plane above that at which the leading edges of the sheet pass below the stripping means; means for rapidly moving the temporary support means from rest position with a timed downward pivotal and endwise ymovement to project between the delivery cylinder and the top of the stack so that sheets are received on the temporary support means to form a pile above the stack; means for slowly lowering the temporary support means to maintain the top of the pile always at the same level; means, operable while the temporary support means is receiving sheets f-rom the delivery cylinder, for rapidly ymoving the platform means downwardly; means for moving the stack generally horizontally from the platform means at the end of said rapid movement; means for returning the platform means upwardly to support the pile; and means operable after the return of the platform for rapidly moving the temporary support means from beneath the pile.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,033 1/ 1926 Reichel.

2,012,220 8/1935 Chambers 214-152 2,205,767 6/ 1940 Lamb 271-88 2,849,236 8/1958 Beaulieu 271-88 2,902,182 9/1959 Thomas 214-152 2,928,559 3/1960 Mosely 214-6 3,141,667 7/1964 Novick 271-71 X 3,160,413 12/1964 Faeber 271-86 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

M. WOLSON, R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiners. 

7. IN A SIGNATURE OR SHEET STACKING APPARATUS WHEREIN A ROTATING DELIVERY CYLINDER AND COOPERATING STRIPPER DELIVER SIGNATURES INDIVIDUALLY TO A DELIVERY STATION TO FORM AN EVEN EDGED STACK ON SUPPORT MEANS IN A STACKING AREA BELOW THE DELIVERY STATION VIA CONTROLLED SHORT FALL OF SIGNATURES TO THE SUPPORT MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION: A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE TABLE, TEMPORARY SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE WITH A FREE END ADJACENT THE DELIVERY STATION, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TEMPORARY SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF SIGNATURE TRAVEL AT THE DELIVERY STATION AND ABOVE THE SUPPORT MEANS TO SUPPORT SIGNATURES THEREON, THUS PERMITTING REMOVAL OF SIGNATURES FROM SAID SUPPORT MEANS THEREBELOW, SAID MOVING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TEMPORARY SUPPORT MEANS PIVOTALLY ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN AN UPWARDLY INCLINED REST POSITION WITH ITS FREE END IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE STRIPPERS AND A HORIZONTAL SUPPORTING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS ENDWISE IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS PIVOTAL MOVEMENT. 